Yesterday I was having a conversation with one of my long-time athletes. This guy has been with me since his days of high school lacrosse and now is on top of the business world.
He was the one that came in with a shitty attitude that I'd NEVER seen before. So he was the recipient of my "so do it anyway..." speech.
Because he was a very coachable athlete, he took it a few steps further and sent me a David Goggin's video about "Embracing the Suck". You know, do something that sucks everyday attitude...
So after viewing the video, I had to agree with the premise that if you go to a dark place and do the things that you hate doing, then you'll eventually get good at it.
See here? You SUCK at something because you don't address it. Since you don't address it you continue to suck at it.
By doing it regardless of whether you like it or not, you by default and repetition will find a way to get good and thereby the task won't suck (as much).
This past summer I hooked up an outdoor shower. There is no hot water supply to this shower so it's an extremely COLD ordeal.
There are MANY physical benefits to a cold shower as there are to a cold plunge in an ice bath. However, I choose the shower for the MENTAL aspect of it's use.
I DO live in California and the temperature RARELY dips below the freezing mark. BUT!!! There are a handful of mornings that it does and the distance my shower is from the door is moderately far.
I traverse the back patio pavers daily for my cold shower after my first training session, not for the physical benefits it brings, but simply to be a "badass".
The ice-cold shower at even 35 degrees SUCKS! But I do it regardless so that I have bragging badass rights.
I HATE stretching, but I do it anyway! Why? So I don't have the same flexibility and mobility as the Golden Gate Bridge. So I stretch! (Gots to remain mobile so I can stay HOSTILE. hahaha)
There are so many things that each of us find rather shitty! "This SUCKS" is the only thing you can say about it...DO IT ANYWAY!!! You will be so much better off if you do.
Today's Training:
AirDyne: 10-10-10
Cycle: Commute
Concept II Row: 6500 meters or 30 minutes (whichever comes first)
Get Ups: Like a "Turkish Get Up" without all the rules. Lay down flat on the ground with your arms over your head. Get up! That's it! It doesn't matter HOW you do it, just stand up with your arms over your head upon standing. Then...ready for this??? Lay back down!
Now here's the kick in the pants, do 100 reps with a rhythm and a quick tempo.
C/S Row: 4x10
Lat Pulldown: 4x10
Blast Strap Row: 125 consecutive reps. Don't stop!!!
Concentration Curls: 4x15
Cycle: Commute